This speech made Jim Fassel a legend in New York and ended with a Giants Super Bowl
Sam Farmer (LA Times) — The New York Jets had their famously outlandish guarantee. And, thanks to Jim Fassel, the New York Giants had their own.
Three decades after quarterback Joe Namath vowed his underdog Jets would beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, coach Fassel promised the football world that his Giants — fresh off a home loss to the mediocre Detroit Lions — would improbably climb to their feet and make the playoffs.
The video of Fassel’s guarantee went viral again Tuesday in the wake of his death from a heart attack. He died at 71, at a hospital near his Las Vegas home, on Monday after he had been admitted with chest pains.
His promise came during a news conference when his Giants team was 7-4 and struggling to regain its balance after consecutive losses.
“This is a poker game, and I’m shoving my chips to the middle of the table,” Fassel said, his words as unwavering and decisive as his sharp jawline. “I’m raising the ante, and anybody who wants to get in, get in. Anybody who wants out can get out. This team is going to the playoffs, OK? This team is going to the playoffs.”
That might have sounded at the time like the wishful thinking of a coach on the hot seat, except that the Giants went on to run the table. They closed the season with victories over Arizona, Washington, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Jacksonville to clinch the NFC East, then beat Philadelphia (for the third time that season) in the playoffs and annihilated favored Minnesota in the NFC title game, 41-0.
The Big Blue juggernaut ended in the Super Bowl against Baltimore, which boasted one of the best defenses in NFL history and won, 34-7.
But Fassel, the NFL’s coach of the year in 1997, permanently endeared himself to Giants fans with his bold — and accurate — proclamation.
The following season, Fassel devoted his time not just to coaching the Giants but also to establishing a foundation for families impacted by the 9/11 terror attacks, raising $1 million on their behalf.
“Jim distinguished himself by the way he managed our team and devoted his efforts to the firefighters and other families following the tragedy of 9/11,” Giants president John Mara said in a statement. “The players respected Jim and enjoyed playing for him and his coaching staff. And we appreciated his seven years of leading our team.”
Fassel (left #6, next to Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Jones and Bob Chandler), a star QB at Anaheim HS who went on to play at Fullerton JC, USC (and played behind Jimmy Jones in ’69) and Long Beach State, rounded into an outstanding offensive mind with a prodigious career in both college and pro coaching.
He was beloved by his players and peers, something plainly obvious in the aftermath of his unexpected death.
On a Twitter thread Tuesday, retired Giants running back Tiki Barber wrote: “Jim Fassel drafted me & was my champion inside the Giants when everyone else was ready to give up on me. He challenged me to excel at the small things, then allowed me to run with the big ones. He’d put his arm around me when I made mistakes, and trusted me not to make them again.
“Most people will remember his ‘guarantee’ from 2000, which was genius because if he was wrong, he’d have been fired and it’d have been forgotten; when he was right, it became legendary. We didn’t win a Super Bowl that year, the Ravens were just better, but he was a champion of friendship to me, and I’ll never forget how he made me feel. So, I’ll remember those unseen things. How he encouraged me when I was down, kicked my ass when I needed it, and beamed with pride when I fulfilled the ideal he had for me.”
Fassel’s son, John, is the former special teams coach of the Rams — a role he now holds with the Dallas Cowboys — and briefly was interim coach in Los Angeles in the wake of Jeff Fisher’s firing. He provided a statement to the Los Angeles Times on the death of his father:
“It is with a very heavy heart to announce that we lost our Dad yesterday. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. While our Dad will be remembered as a longtime fan and face of the football world, his legacy will live forever in our hearts as the greatest Dad and Grandpa of all time. He leaves behind his wife Kitty, their 5 kids and spouses, as well as 16 happy and healthy grandkids. We love you Dad.”
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I posted earlier today that Jay Toia in all likelihood left USC for UCLA because he thought he made a mistake choosing USC and liked the Bruins more. I’ve just received some very solid info IMO, that would indicate I was totally incorrect. I’ve now been told by an incredible inside USC source that Toia left USC because an “uncle” of his demanded the switch to UCLA, and is apparently so powerful within the family that Toia moved over to UCLA because of this intense pressure — even though Toia really liked his experience at USC, did NOT want to… Read more »
That kinda makes sense. He said he felt pressured to pick USC because he couldn’t visit other schools. Ucla is just down the road a bit from USC, I doubt he had trouble visiting. But he also said it was a childhood dream to play for the Trojans so it made no sense to select the Booins. Finally he visited Michigan and “really liked” the visit.
I hope he finds out what my mom found out after her first semester at Ucla, that the best football team with letters for a name has only three letters and not four.
I totally believe my source, who has been good for accurate Trojan inside info so many times in the past for me.
I agree with you. This version of what happened to Jay Toia and USC/UCLA very much rings true based on all that we know so far, both publicly and privately.
Allen, I never really know where to put posts at time Given that this is the new thread I thought I would respond to Arledge’s comments on the 2021 Bruins here rather than in response to your post. You know I really enjoy Chris and have huge respect for his opinions. And, I felt like I pulled a Clay Helton when I read his latest column. I loved that he roasted Helton for his claim that the 2021 SC team was going to average 40 ppg. As Chris pointed out, Helton is delusional, lazy and ignorant, a snake oil salesman,… Read more »
@TrojanRJJ Putting your posts wherever you feel they will attract the most attention, or be the most visible, works well for both John and me, which is why at the end of every post, I always state:
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— Jim Fassel’s amazing coaching tree — Fassel has worked under twelve head coaches: Mike Giddings: The Hawaiians (1974) Jim Colletto: Fullerton Junior College (1975) Tom Lovat: Utah (1976) Pete Riehlman: Weber State (1977) Rod Dowhower: Stanford (1978) Paul Wiggin: Stanford (1979–1983) Dick Coury: New Orleans Breakers (1984) Ray Handley: New York Giants (1991–1992) Wade Phillips: Denver Broncos (1993–1994) Mike White: Oakland Raiders (1995) Vince Tobin: Arizona Cardinals (1996) Brian Billick: Baltimore Ravens (2004–2006) Three of Fassel’s coaching assistants became head coaches in the NFL or NCAA: John Fox: Carolina Panthers (2002–2010), Denver Broncos (2011–2014), Chicago Bears (2015–2017) Sean Payton: New Orleans Saints (2006–present) DeWayne Walker: New Mexico State (2009–2012) Two of Fassel’s former players became head coaches in the NFL (not including interim tenures): Jason Garrett: Dallas Cowboys (2011–2019) Dan Campbell: Detroit… Read more »
While researching Jay Toia’s transfer to UCLA, I came across this info about MICH vs OHIO ST, as Toia had also visited MICH after leaving USC. Were you a MICH fan, imagine beating OHIO ST only once in the last 16 years! “Per photos that have been leaked via Twitter inside Michigan’s training facility, there’s a new graphic plastered on the wall that reads, “What are you doing to beat Ohio State today?”, a scripture of sorts to encourage maximum effort from the Wolverines. “The Wolverines have lost eight straight in the series and have only beaten the Buckeyes once in… Read more »
larrybrownsports.com — Frosh DL Jay Toia, who had committed to USC in 2018, is now a UCLA Bruin. “The 6-3, 320-pound tackle had offers from a number of schools, including several in the Pac-12. It’s unclear why he changed his mind three years later and after already enrolling at USC, but he will now be playing for the Trojans’ rival. “Though Toia’s transfer is surprising, he did show some signs last year of wavering on his commitment. He took a step back to reevaluate his decision in August, but he ended up enrolling at USC anyway. “Toia, who attended Grace Brethren… Read more »
R.I.P. Jim Fassel, a well-respected coach by both his players and peers. I remember both Jim and Mike Holmgren backing up starting QB Jimmy Jones in the “Cardiac Kids” days of 1969-70. Ironic that both Jim and Mike were head coaches in the NFL, and very good ones indeed. Reading about Jim’s establishment of a foundation to help the firefighters and families of victims of the 9/11 tragedy, helps me believe he was a class act and good man. Again, R,I.P. Jim and Fight On Forever!